Teen in Holden crash in critical condition

Thursday

Feb 13, 2014 at 6:00 AMFeb 13, 2014 at 1:51 PM

By Steven H. Foskett Jr. TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

HOLDEN — More than 100 people gathered at St. Mary's Church Wednesday night at a vigil service for Peter Luro, a Wachusett Regional High School senior seriously injured in a car accident earlier in the day.

About 40 minutes in, Rev. Timothy M. Brewer called for everyone to quietly pray. The church fell completely silent for several minutes. The whir of the overhead fans and the occasional clank of the heating pipes made the only noise.

This morning, Mr. Luro was listed in critical condition at UMass Memorial Medical Center - University Campus in Worcester, according to a nursing supervisor.

People who attended the service said they hoped for the best for Mr. Luro, who grew up and lives in Princeton.

Mr. Luro is on the golf team, and his teammates wore team jackets as a show of unity at the vigil service. Team captain Nick Wiles said he grew up with Mr. Luro; the two are close friends. He said he doesn't remember time spent with Mr. Luro that wasn't spent having fun.

"He's just another part of the family," Mr. Wiles said.

While golfing, he and Mr. Luro like to talk, have fun, and "mess around," Mr. Wiles said.

"We had more laughs than golf balls we hit," Mr. Wiles said.

According to police, around 7:15 a.m. there was a three-car crash at Princeton and Main streets in the Jefferson section of town.

Mr. Luro was taken by ambulance to UMass Memorial Medical Center. The accident is being investigated jointly by local police and the state police accident reconstruction team. Police gave no further details or updates Wednesday night.

Rev. Brewer said he simply wanted to make his church available as a place where the community could come together for Mr. Luro. Word spread quickly on social media sites such as Twitter, and by 7 p.m. the parking lot at St. Mary's, which is on Princeton Street, right up from where the accident happened, was full.

Nick Guerin, Wachusett golf coach, said he knows Mr. Luro because of two things — golf and the science fair, two of the senior's passions. He said Mr. Luro is quiet by nature, but noted that he has a phenomenal sense of humor that comes out at times.

He said that at one of the last team dinners, Mr. Luro was asked what his best memories of the season were. Mr. Guerin said Mr. Luro didn't talk about scores or shots he made; he noted good times he had playing with a friend.

Mr. Wiles said being surrounded by so many people at the vigil service made him proud to be part of the Wachusett community.

Joanne Kay of Princeton said she has known Mr. Luro since he was a boy. She, too, was impressed with the turnout Wednesday night. She said it's nice be a part of a community in which people support one another.